“Just Give Me The Damn Ball”

Article by Brent Weber

We sit in 4th place. We are on 20 points after 10 matches. However, we are not scoring goals. We are not creating good scoring chances. We continue to grind out points and are keep clean sheets. However, we will not finish in the top 4 if we don’t start scoring goals. In my opinion, our problem is that our best offensive player doesn’t get the ball.

Keyshawn Johnson, a dynamic NFL wide receiver and a potential Hall Of Famer, made the phrase “Just Give Me The Damn Ball!” famous and eventually used it as the title of his biography. A wide receiver in American football is similar to a striker in football. Receivers, like strikers, can only make plays when they get the ball. They need supply. Keyshawn Johnson wanted the ball because he knew he could make plays that would help his team score and win. Soldado, in my opinion, is our best scoring option, but he is not touching the ball enough to make a difference.

During the Everton match, he got the ball inside the scoring area three times. The first was on a cross from Lennon that he headed wide of the target. The second was on a nice ball from Holtby that he just couldn’t finish. The last was on the edge of the box that he quickly turned on and shot over the goal. Some critics will say he just isn’t getting the job done. I disagree. Three touches in a scoring position are just not enough for a player of Soldado’s quality. He needs the ball! As long as his touches are limited, his goal scoring chances will also be limited.

So how do we get him the ball? I think there a few things AVB could try.

The first is to use natural wingers to get more crosses into Soldado. AVB has used different personnel in the starting XI but most combinations have included inverted wings on both sides of the pitch. Natural wingers would give us more width and the ability to cross the ball into the box more often, thus creating more opportunities for Soldado. Lennon is our best option on the right side for service. Townsend is a great player, but we all know he prefers to cut inside versus servicing from the right. Regardless of personnel, AVB needs one natural winger on the pitch with the sole intent of supplying Soldado.

In addition to lack of supply, the middle of the pitch is very crowded with inverted wingers on each side. Soldado, Eriksen, and Holtby have been very crowded and have limited space to work with when both wings creep to the middle. Lack of space limits movement and chances in the final third.

I would also like to see Holtby and Eriksen on the pitch together. This would increase supply for Soldado and force defenses to cover multiple attackers in the middle. AVB has yet to use this combination. Our back line has been tremendous which should give AVB the confidence to try both Holtby and Eriksen together. Holtby and Eriksen are both capable of playing on the wing as well for yet another attacking look.

Finally, AVB has been reluctant to use a different formation. In all 10 matches this season, we have played in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Last season, AVB successfully adjusted to the 4-4-1-1 formation to fuel productivity. The 4-4-1-1 allowed Bale space and freedom in the middle of the pitch. We don’t have a player of Bale’s quality to play in the middle, but we have good options. Eriksen, Lamela, Holtby or Townsend could play that role very well. This formation would create space in the middle for the #10 and Soldado.

We keep hearing that the goals will come. AVB says he is not worried about the lack of goals. We are 10 matches into the season and unless AVB makes changes, the goals won’t come. The fact is that we need to score more goals. We won’t make the top 4 if we don’t start creating better chances and scoring goals. The more Soldado touches the ball, the more scoring chances we will get. Through 10 matches, Soldado has been the most expensive decoy and penalty kick taker in the premier league. Please, please, please AVB, “Just get him the damn ball!”

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